Open Letter to Reform the National Firearms Act
May 17, 2025
The Honorable Jodey C. Arrington
Chairman, House Committee on Budget, U.S. House of Representatives
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4319
The Honorable Virginia Foxx
Chairman, House Committee on Rules, U.S. House of Representatives
2462 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3305
Rep. Arrington, Rep. Foxx, members of the House committees on Budget and Rules:
As leaders of the undersigned organizations, we demand immediate inclusion of portions of the Hearing
Protection Act (H.R. 404) and the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act (H.R. 2395) in the
forthcoming reconciliation bill. These critical pieces of legislation address longstanding, unjust restrictions
imposed by the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 which infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-
abiding Americans. The failure to incorporate these bills into the reconciliation package would represent a
profound missed opportunity to restore individual liberty, protect public health, and uphold constitutional
guarantees.
The Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404), introduced by Representative Ben Cline (R-VA-06), seeks to remove
firearm suppressors from the NFA’s burdensome regulatory framework, replacing it with a streamlined purchase
process for typical accessories. Suppressors, contrary to popular misconceptions, do not silence firearms but
significantly reduce noise levels, mitigating the risk of permanent hearing loss for shooters and hunters. The
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery has endorsed suppressors as effective tools for
preventing hearing damage, a public health concern affecting millions of Americans. The current NFA
requirements — including a $200 tax stamp for both manufacture and transfer of the devices, extensive
paperwork, and excessive waiting times — serve no meaningful public safety purpose while imposing undue
financial and administrative burdens on responsible citizens. With over 4.8 million suppressors in civilian
circulation, their widespread use underscores the need for reform.
Similarly, the SHORT Act (H.R. 2395) addresses the arbitrary NFA classification of short-barreled rifles (SBRs)
and short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), which subjects them to the same onerous regulations as transferable machine
guns and other highly restricted devices. This outdated framework, rooted in 1930s-era fears of organized crime,
lacks relevance in the modern context, where SBRs and SBSs pose no greater threat than standard rifles or
shotguns. The SHORT Act would delist these firearms from the NFA, eliminating unnecessary barriers to
ownership and ensuring that law-abiding Americans are not penalized for exercising their constitutional rights.
Language compliant with the U.S. Senate “Byrd rule” (2 U.S.C. 644) is circulating the Second Amendment
community and should be incorporated in the current budget reconciliation package. The urgency of including
this language in the reconciliation package cannot be overstated. Recent reports indicate that the House Ways and
Means Committee has delayed action on both H.R. 404 and H.R. 2395, potentially due to lobbying efforts that
prioritize commercial interests over the public good. Such delays are unacceptable, particularly when public
sentiment, as reflected in numerous grassroots calls to action, overwhelmingly supports NFA reform. The
reconciliation process offers a unique opportunity to bypass Senate filibuster constraints, ensuring that these
common-sense reforms reach the House floor and become law. Failure to seize this moment risks further
entrenching an antiquated and unconstitutional regulatory regime.
Opponents of these reforms, such as Michael Bloomberg’s “Everytown for Gun Safety,” argue that suppressor
deregulation poses public safety risks by making gunfire less detectable. This claim is false and ignores the reality
that suppressors reduce, but do not eliminate, firearm noise. Moreover, homemade suppressors are readily
accessible to those with criminal intent.
The public safety argument against SBR deregulation is equally baseless, as these firearms are functionally
identical to their longer-barreled counterparts. These objections, often rooted in fearmongering rather than
evidence, should not override the constitutional rights of millions of Americans.
The Second Amendment unequivocally protects the right to keep and bear arms, and the NFA’s restrictive
provisions—originally enacted to combat gang violence nearly a century ago—have long outlived their utility.
The Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act represent measured, practical steps toward aligning federal law
with contemporary realities and constitutional principles. Their inclusion in the reconciliation bill is not merely a
policy preference but a moral and legal imperative.
We, the signatories, therefore demand that the House Committee on Rules and the committee on Budgets act
decisively to ensure that broadly supported language of H.R. 404 and H.R. 2395 are incorporated into the
reconciliation package in their entirety, without dilution or compromise. The American people deserve legislation
that respects their rights, promotes public health, and dismantles unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. We strongly
urge you to heed the calls of millions of gun owners and Second Amendment advocates who have made their
voices clear. The time for action is now.
Respectfully,
Gary Marbut, President Montana Shooting Sports Association
Philip Van Cleave, President Virginia Citizens Defense League
Sean Caranna, Executive Director Florida Carry, Inc.
Tom King, President New York State Rifle & Pistol Association.
Rep. JR Hoell, President New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, Inc.
Kevin Starrett, Director Oregon Firearms Federation
Mike Duralia, President South Carolina Carry
Kevin Patrick, Jr., Acting President West Virginia Citizens Defense League
Matthew Andras, President Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners
Mark W. Pennak, President Maryland Shall Issue
Richard Pearson, Exec. Director Illinois State RIFLE Association
Kimberly Morin, President Women’s Defense League of NH
Klint Macro, President Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League
Rich Kerlin, President Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League
Blaine Toy, President Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania
Rob Pincus, Director 2nd Amendment Organization
Dianna Muller, President Women for Gun Rights
J.R. Stoker Jr., President Firearms Owners Against Crime Institute
Dr. Joe Hannon, VP Gun Owners of New Hampshire
Dennis Fusaro, Member* Legislative Policy Committee,
BOD National Rifle Association
Jon Richardson, Member* BOD National Rifle Association
Bryan Strawser, Chair Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus
David Adams, Exec. Director Virginia Shooting Sports Association
Laura Whitcomb, President Gun Owners of Maine.
Holly Sullivan, President Connecticut Citizens Defense League
John C. Poole II, Exec. Director, Texas State Rifle Association
Charles Hiltunen, President Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association
Rocky Marshall Boerne, TX
Eric Davis, President Gun Owners of Vermont
Linda Walker, President Buckeye Firearms Association
Jeffrey Kaufman, MD, BoD VT Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
Chris Bradley, President VT Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
Huey Laugesen, Exec. Director Colorado State Shooting Association
James D Jones, Secretary and Board Member BamaCarry
*(title for identification only)
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